14^ 



The next insect on my list of the troublesome is the striped cucumber beetle (Dia- 

 hiotica f/i^afa, Fab.), a little yellow-striped creature (Fig. 7) that is no 

 doubt familiar to everyone. Dr. Weed, of the Ohio State Experiment 

 Station, has satisfactorily shown by a series of careful experiments that the 

 best mode of preventing injury from this insect is to so protect the plants 

 that the beetle cannot get at them, and that this can be most cheaply and 

 successfully done by " protecting each hill by a piece of plant-cloth, or 

 cheese-cloth, about two feet square. This may be done simply by placing 

 it over the plants and fastening the edges down by small stones or loose earth. It is 

 better, however, to hold it up by means of a half barrel hoop, or a wire Went in the form 

 of a croquet arch." 



The Pear-tree slug (Selandria cerasi, Peck), Fig. 8, has been very abundant and injuri- 

 ous in many quarters, completely destroying the foliage of cherry as well as pear trees. It is 



too familiar a pest to require description at my 

 hands. An effective remedy has been found in 

 the application of a weak mixture of Paris green 

 and water. Last year I referred to the exceed- 

 ing abundance in all parts of this Province of the 

 fall web-worm [Hyphantria textor, Harris). I 

 regret to say that this year it has been more 

 abundant than ever, so much so that it may be 

 regarded as the most noticeable attack of the season. It has become widespread through- 

 out Canada and the United States as far south, at least, as Virginia. 



The larch saw-fly [Nematiis Erichsordi) continues to be very abundant and destruc- 

 tive. Unfortunately it is a kind of attack for which there seems no practicable remedy. 



The tent-caterpillars (Clisiocampa) have again, I am happy to say, been conspicuous 

 by their absence. It is to be hoped that this immunity may long continue. 



The oyster-shell bark-louse {Mt/tihtspis pomorum, Bouche), Fig. 9, has become very 

 injurious in orchards and gardens, but few fruit-growers seem to realise how 

 much injury ic occasions, because it is so inconspicuous. Scraping the bark of 

 the trunk and larger limbs, or scrubbing them with strong soapsuds will be 

 found useful, but when the insect covers the smaller branches and twigs, as 

 it soon does when undisturbed, it becomes necessary to resort to some other 

 method of treatment. Syringing with a kerosene emulsion just before the 

 buds burst in the spring, or late in the autumn immediately after the fall of 

 the leaves, will be found most eflective. 



As far as I have been able to ascertain, these are the most noteworthy 

 insect attacks of the year. There have been, no doubt, many others in par- 

 ticular localities, but these that I have referred to were for the most part 

 widespread and general. 



You will probably have noticed that I have given Paris green as the remedy 

 for most insect pests. Its use has now been pretty thoroughly tested both here 

 and in the United States, and there is no doubt that it is by far the simplest 

 and most effective remedy for the codling-moth of the apple, the plum cur- 

 culio, and all leaf-eating insects. It is, of course, absolutely necessary that 

 great care should be exercised when handling so virulent a poison, to prevent 

 injury to human beings or animals, and that the directions given by skilled 

 entomologists, who have made careful experiments, should be strictly carried out. It must 

 also be borne in mind that satisfactory results cannot be expected without the use of proper 

 pumps and nozzles. The great point to be aimed at is to envelop the tree in a fine mist 

 of the poisoned mixture, not to simply cause the foliage to drip from the squirting of a 

 stream of the liquid. For full information regarding desirable appliances for this purpose 

 and the quantities to be employed, J would refer those interested to the Bulletin No. 11, 

 issued by the Central Experimental Farm at Ottawa, and prepared by Mr. bletcher. It 

 is entitled " Recommendations for the Prevention of Damage by some Common Insects 

 of the Farm, the Orchard and the Garden." It is a most admirable little manual, and 



